The Consuming Fire (The Interdependency #2)(51)

“It’s not actually from me,” Fundapellonan said. “That’s a gift from the Countess Nohamapetan. Terhathum is famous for our topazes. Not that most people would know that, because the Nohamapetan monopoly is for maize and rice, and the House of Hoak doesn’t tell people where the topaz they sell comes from.”

“And I get a gift from the countess why, exactly? Rumor is, she hates my fucking guts.”

“The countess believes you and she may have gotten off on the wrong foot. And coming on the heels of the death of her daughter, I think she believes that it might be time to reassess relationships.” Fundapellonan pointed to the bracelet. “That bracelet is a token. I should tell you its financial value is negligible—it’s probably worth a thousand marks at most—but it belonged to Nadashe as she was growing up. The countess hopes that fact convinces you of her sincerity in wanting to make a new start between the two of you.”

“Uh-huh,” Kiva said. She picked up the bracelet again, which to be fair was lovely, and looked at it. “You suggested this to her, didn’t you.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I don’t know if you’ve ever met the Countess Nohamapetan, but she’s about as sentimental as a fucking alligator. There is no way in hell she got all mopey about her daughter, picked this thing up, and sent you here to help her realize a healing journey of the fucking soul.”

“I think you may be underselling the countess.”

“I doubt it.”

“You’re a doubter of the perfectibility of the human soul.”

“I think to perfect a soul you have to have one to begin with.”

“That’s mean, Kiva Lagos,” Fundapellonan said.

Kiva shrugged.

“Shall I tell the countess that you’ve rejected her gift?”

“Sure, because I need to give her another reason to hate me, thanks.”

Fundapellonan smiled. “Then I will just tell her that you expressed your delight and humble thanks.”

“Yes, that sounds exactly like me.”

“Just as much as the countess giving bracelets sounds like her.”

“So you did suggest it to her.”

“I might have said the bracelet would suit you.”

“I’m not sure why. I don’t wear much jewelry.”

“Maybe it was because I thought I’d like to see it on you.”

Kiva put it on. “Well?”

“It’s not bad,” Fundapellonan said, after a minute.

“Fine, then.” Kiva took off the bracelet and set it back on the table. “Now that we’ve had our maudlin moment of gawking and sharing, do the thing so I can say no and we can get on with our lives.”

“The countess invites you to reassess your stewardship of the House of Nohamapetan’s businesses here in the Hub system.”

“All right.”

“Really?”

“Sure,” Kiva said, and counted to one in her head. “Now I’m done. And my answer to the countess is ‘fuck you.’ I already told her no once. She already took her case to the fucking emperox and was turned down. And not only did she say no, she explicitly said that I was to stay on and to have the full cooperation of the House of Nohamapetan in my investigation of the in-system. Which, by the way, I still don’t have, and it’s beginning to piss me off.”

“I will communicate that issue to the countess.”

“Do that. Also communicate to her the part where I said ‘fuck you.’ Make sure you phrase it precisely that way. And while you’re at it let her know that if you or anyone else shows up in this office again to suggest to me that I shouldn’t do the fucking job that the actual goddamn ruler of the entire known inhabited universe has told me to do, I’m going to start getting angry about it.”

Fundapellonan blinked at this. “This is you not angry?”

“You haven’t actually seen me angry yet.”

“I’m going to make a note of that.”

“And neither has the countess. And if she gets me angry, no amount of fucking friendship bracelets is going to help her.”

“And there is nothing else that will cause you to reconsider your position?”

Kiva tilted her head. “Again with the bribe offers.”

Fundapellonan spread her hands. “I need to be able to go back and say I walked through the checklist.”

“What else is on the checklist?”

“That was it.”

“Are you sure? We haven’t gotten to the veiled threats yet.”

“No veiled threats.”

“The countess must be off her game.”

“Well, she is dealing with the death of her child. For the second time this year.”

“There is that.” Kiva looked at the bracelet again, and then over to Fundapellonan. “What are you doing later?”

“I’m busy.”

“What about after that?”

“I’m always busy.”

“I know for a fact you’re not that busy.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying you should come over.”

“Maybe I’m avoiding you.”